Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-03-03

extended arm and pistol covered him.
"Silence!. or I'll let that candle shine
through you"
"Yes. captainln growled the astounded and
frightened halfbreed II didn't know you
were here
Lee raised himself and grasped the long
whip in his left hand and whirled it round
his head.
"Wilt you dry ups"
The man sank back against the wall in
silent terror.
"Open that door now-softlyn
Manuel obeyed with trembling fingers.
"Ned," said Lee in low voice "bring him
in here-quiclS."
There was slight rustic, and Falxner APP
peared. backing in another gasping figure.
whose eyes were starting under the strong
grasp of the captor at his throat.
"Silence," said Lee, call of YOU
There was q breathless pause. The sound
of door hesitatingly opened in the passage
broke the stiffness, followed by the gentle
voice of Mrs. Scott.
as anything the mattera'
Lee made slight gesture of warning to
Falkner, of menace to the others. EVERY
things the NATTER he called out cheerily
sheds managed to half pull down the house
trying to get at something from my saddle
bags"
~ hope he has not hurt himself broke In
another voice mischievously.
ANSWER, you clumsy villain whispered
Lee, with twinkling eyes.
"I'm all right, thank you" responded Falk-
ner with unaffected awkwardness
There was a slight murmuring Of voices,
and then the door was heard to close Lee
turned to Falkner.
"Disarm that hound and turn him loose out
side, and make no noise. And you, MANUEL
tell him what his and your chances nre if he
shows his black face here again"
Manuel cast single, terrified, supplicat-
ing glance, more suggestive than words, at
his confederate, as Falkner showed him be-
fore him from the room. The next moment
they were silently descending the stairs.
"May / go too, captain?" entreated Manuel
81 swear to Cod
snow, then" said Lee, with broad, graft
fed smile, laying down his whip and pistol
within reach and comfortably settling the
pillows behind his back, swell have quiet
confab A sort of old fashioned talk, cha
You're not looking well, Manuel. You're
drinking too much again. 1t spoils your
complexion"
"Let me go, captain" pleaded the man,
emboldened by the good humored voice, but
not near enough to notice peculiar light in
the speakers eye.
"You've only just come, Manuel, and at
considerable trouble, too. Wen, what have
you got to say? What's ali this about?
What are you doing here?"
The captured man shuffied his feet ner-
vously, and only uttered an uneasy laugh Of
coarse discontinue
III see. You're bashful. Well, I'll help
you along. Comet You knew that Hale
was away and these women were here with
out man to help them You thought you'd
find some money here, and have your own
way generally, eh!'
The tone of Lees voice inspired him to
confidence; unfortunately, it inspired him
with familiarity also.
II reckoned ] had the right to little fun
on my own account, cap. | reckoned ez one
gentleman in the profession wouldn't inter-
fere with another gentleman's little game"
he continued coarsely.
"Stand up"
"Wot for?"
Cup, say!"
Manuel stood up and glanced at him.
"Utter cry that might brighten these
women, and by the living God they'll rush
in here only to find you lying dead on the
floor of the house you'd have polluted
He grasped the whip and laid the lash of
it heavily twice over the ruffians shoulders.
Writing in suppressed agony, the man fell
imploringly on his knees.
"Now, listenI" said Lee, softly twirling
the whip in the cir. II want to refresh your
memory. Did you ever learn, when you
were with me-before I was obliged to kick
you out Of gentlemen's company-to break
into private house? Answerl"